What happened
On January 13, 1998, a Piper PA-25 was conducting an agricultural spraying mission over a banana plantation in the Juquiá region of São Paulo. The aircraft, operated by Aero Agrícola Caiçara, was performing oil spraying maneuvers in a hilly area characterized by irregular terrain. To cover the entire plantation, the pilot was executing descending spirals.
During the recovery phase of the fourth pass, the aircraft's left wing struck a banana tree at an altitude of approximately five meters. The impact caused the pilot to lose control of the aircraft, which subsequently struck the ground in an inverted position with a 45-degree roll and pitch angle. The aircraft sustained heavy damage, including the destruction of the propeller, left wing, and various flight control surfaces.
The investigation
CENIPA's investigation focused on the operational conditions and the pilot's maneuvers. The investigation confirmed that the pilot was experienced and held valid commercial and agricultural licenses. The aircraft, registered as PT-DJT, was found to be in good maintenance condition, with all logs up to date and within weight and center of gravity limits.
Investigators noted that the terrain presented extreme risks, as the low point of the valley provided very restricted space for safe aircraft recovery. While the pilot attempted to recover the aircraft with a 20-degree pitch-up attitude, the lack of sufficient margin for error led to the collision. The investigation was partially limited by the pilot's inability to be interviewed due to the serious injuries sustained in the accident.